http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5654/t/3866/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1823​

 

**Action Alert** - Budget needed for bears. Must spend to save!

The letter B, of the B.E.A.R.S. Essentials, stands for 'Budget dedicated to recovery'. Alberta's Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan includes a detailed budget of $2.8 million to be spent over three years on critical aspects of recovery. Unfortunately the government has so far failed to indicate any funding dedicated for grizzly bear recovery. Without a committed budget, there is no guarantee the grizzly bear recovery program will receive the funding required to be successful.

 

The amount required per year to fund grizzly bear recovery equates to 0.0025% of the province's total planned spending in 2009 of $36.4 billion. To put this in perspective, if a family had a yearly income of $60 000 that would mean budgeting $1.50 to aid the recovery of this iconic species.

 

The government has indicated that roughly $900 000 will be spent on grizzly bear management in 2009 yet there is no indication how much, if any, of this money will be spent specifically on the recovery actions outlined in the Recovery Plan. For recovery to be successful, the budget outlined in the Recovery Plan must be provided in addition to funding already allocated for ongoing grizzly bear management.

 

Grizzly bears and their plight are a warning light for the state of Alberta's natural environment and a symbol of disappearing wilderness. Therefore, a dollar invested to save grizzly bears and their habitat is a dollar invested to conserve a host of other plants, animals and economic resources that fall under that umbrella of protection

 

In contrast to the limited spending on grizzly bear recovery, Alberta has dedicated ten million dollars towards marketing the new provincial slogan, "Alberta. Freedom to create. Spirit to achieve" in an attempt to green wash their image in the global market place.

 

The lack of funding where it really counts will not be lost on the world, especially as we approach 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity. But if it is only an image the province is concerned about then consider this; what other globally recognized Alberta icon represents "spirit" and "freedom" better than the grizzly bear?

 

Please take a moment to send a letter to these key Alberta decision makers:

Premier Ed StelmachHonourable Lloyd Snelgrove, President of the Treasury BoardHonourable Ted Morton, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development 

Request that Alberta includes grizzly bear recovery as a line item in Alberta's 2010/2011 provincial budget.

 

Letters sent from the Action Grizzly Bear website will automatically be sent to all three decision makers. Sending a letter is fast, easy and critically important.Remember our goal is 100 personally written letters for each action alert. Help speak up for B.E.A.R.S. in Alberta!

 Send your letter now!​

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5654/t/3866/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1823